How to Lay Out Tile for a Fireplace Surround
- 1). Lay out your tiles on the floor in 6- to 8-foot lengths with tile spacers between every tile. This gives you an accurate look at how wide you want your grout joints and will allow you the ease of use when transferring the measurements from the fireplace surround to the tile itself for layout purposes.
- 2). Measure across the top of the fireplace and then down the sides. Check the measurements against your laid-out tile on the floor. This will allow you to check for whether or not you can use full tiles going across and up the sides or whether you will need to make cuts.
- 3). Determine your pattern. Depending on the width and height of your surround, as well as the size of your tiles, you may need to cut the tiles to fit. Using your laid-out tiles on the floor, you can easily adjust things to one side or another until you are happy with the end result. One of the most aesthetically pleasing ways is to use your tape measure and establish the center point across the top of the fireplace. Put a full tile at the top of each corner, which will leave a cut at the bottom of each side. Measuring inwards towards the center, it will generally leave a large cut in the middle of the top section. This will allow you to have full tiles running up the sides, with only cuts at the bottom, and then one large cut in the middle of the horizontal section at the top.
- 4). Adjust as necessary. You may want to use a diagonal pattern, or you may want to try using cuts up the side. Use your tape measure, levels, pencil and laid-out tile on the floor to adjust things until you find the perfect look for you.
- 5). Using your level, tape measure and pencil, draw level and plum lines around your perimeter. This will allow you to know exactly where to apply the thinset or mastic when you install the tile without going over the line and possibly ruining the paint on the wall surrounding.
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